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Is soil quality improvement by legume cover crops a function of the initial soil chemical characteristics?

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Abstract

The aim of this study, which was conducted in a humid savannah zone of central Côte d’Ivoire, was to examine changes in the quality of soil cultivated with herbaceous legume cover crops as a function of initial soil characteristics. Mucuna pruriens var utilis and Pueraria phaseoloides were used in a two side-by-side location experiment: a shrubby savannah (the savannah site or “SAV”) and a natural fallow dominated by Chromolaena odorata (the fallow site or “FAL”). The latter was mainly characterized by higher organic matter [organic carbon (C) 10 vs. 7.5 mg kg−1; total nitrogen (N) 0.8 vs. 0.5 mg kg−1) and total phosphorus (P) (282.3 vs. 168.3 mg kg−1) contents in the upper soil layer (0–10 cm). After 8 months of growth, biomass production by M. pruriens was found to be 6.5 and 4.9 t dry matter (DM) ha−1 at FAL and SAV, respectively. For P. phaseoloides, the values were 7.2 and 6.4 t DM ha−1, respectively, in approximately the same period. The quantities of nutrients released by decomposing legume litter were higher at FAL than at SAV. Between-site differences in soil quality improvement were most noticeable in terms of available P, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and MBC:total carbon (TC) ratio. The FAL site experienced a faster improvement of soil parameters under both legume species: available P increased from 18 to 58 mg kg−1 under M. pruriens, and from 19 to 52 mg kg−1 under P. phaseoloides; MBC increased from 88 to 185 mg kg−1 under M. pruriens, and from 127 to 192 mg kg−1 under P. phaseoloides. In contrast, the parameters remained constant over time at SAV. Soil C and N contents as well as C mineralization showed similar trends at both sites. Based on these results, we conclude that soil quality improvement under cover crops appears to be faster when the initial soil organic C, total N and P contents are adequate. These findings will be useful in assisting governmental decision-making on approaches to be taken for restoring soil fertility in low-input agricultural systems in West Africa.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the International Foundation for Science (IFS) and the “Service de Coopération et d’Action Culturelle” (SCAC) at the French Embassy in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). The authors are grateful to Dr. Martine Tahoux (Director of the Ecological Research Centre (CRE), University of Abobo-Adjamé) and Dr. Souleymane Konaté (Director of the Lamto Ecological Research Station) for facilitating the field work, and Prof. Tié-bi Tra (ESA, INP-HB, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire) for samples analyses and collaboration. They also thank Yao N’Goran, Konan N’Guessan Jean and Loucou Kouakou Martin (supporting staff of Lamto) for their assistance during field experiments.

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  1. Gladys Loranger-Merciris

    Present address: EA 926 DYNECAR, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, Laboratoire de Biologie et de Physiologie Végétales, BP 592, 97159, Pointe à Pitre Cedex, Guadeloupe, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UFR des Sciences de la Nature/Centre de Recherche en Ecologie, Université d’Abobo-Adjamé, 02 BP 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire

    Armand W. Koné & Jérôme E. Tondoh

  2. Laboratoire Géosciences, UFR des Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Université d’Abobo-Adjamé, 02 BP 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire

    Pascal K. T. Angui

  3. UMR 137 BIOSOL, IRD, Laboratoire d’Ecologie des Sols Tropicaux, 32 Avenue Henri Varagnat, 93143, Bondy Cedex, France

    France Bernhard-Reversat & Gladys Loranger-Merciris

  4. UR SeqBio, IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Montpellier SupAgro, Bât. 12, 2 place Viala, 34060, Montpellier cedex 1, France

    Didier Brunet

  5. Centre de Recherche en Ecologie, Université d’Abobo-Adjamé, 01 BP 109, Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire

    Soumaïla T. K. Brédoumi

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  1. Armand W. Koné
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Correspondence to Armand W. Koné.

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Koné, A.W., Tondoh, J.E., Angui, P.K.T. et al. Is soil quality improvement by legume cover crops a function of the initial soil chemical characteristics?. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 82, 89–105 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-008-9172-4

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